Production of monoenergetic X-rays from 8 to 87 keV (for use in chemical analysis)

A secondary target system was employed to study the production of monoenergetic X-rays using an X-ray generator and a series of secondary targets of Cu, Ge, Mo, Ag, Cd, Te, Sm, Gd, W and Pb. The bremsstrahlung output of the X-ray tube was used to picture stimulated X-ray fluorescence in the secondary targets. The fluorescence spectra of the above targets were recorded with a high resolution Ge X-ray detector, and were found to be composed of 85-90%Kalpha and Kbeta X-rays of the secondary target at optimum X-ray tube potentials.